Back in the old days (late 1960s), I used to be able to buy a complete Model T gasket set (cork) from Sears Roebuck, including a Victor copper head gasket, for about $7(?). I never experienced an oil leak with a Model T.
Now, gaskets seem to be paper. Paper just doesn't have the deformable properties of sheet cork, and I'm getting oil leaks at the bell housing that are very difficult to resolve. When I take off the hog's head and replace the gaskets with new paper, I can get a leak somewhere else on the seam. Liquid gasket maker is difficult to deal with when trying to resolve a seal with the engine in the car.
Does anyone sell the traditional cork gaskets?
Jim
I don't know about pre-cut gaskets, but I'm pretty sure that you can buy sheets of cork gasket material at most "real" auto parts stores and cut your own. A set of hole punches are very helpful.
Yes, you can still make them yourself. I do.
I make my own and find these tools to be indispensable
I have a Fel-Pro set that is cork. It was given to me years ago. I prefer to use paper gaskets with silicone sealer after making sure my pan surfaces are flat and not distorted by the bolts.
I do know that the Fel-Pro sets that are available today are very expensive compared to what our usual suppliers sell. I don't know if they're still cork.
I get my cork from walmart you can find long sheets rolled up that they use for cork information boards usually in the office/school supplies. This works well, we did a 23 roadster 30 years ago from front to back we cut all of our gaskets with a pocket knife and scissors. We coated both sides with a very thin layer of RTV sealer.
It was the only Model T in the world that didn't leak oil Lol...! No but all kidding aside the only drips of oil came from the pedal shafts on side of the transmission. Fel-Pro makes cork sheets also but you'll pay triple for it compared to walmart....
Sounds like making your own is the only alternative. I've tried using some NOS ones, but they're all shrunk with age and none of the holes line up.
Mike - The expression,..."shrunk with age" is a poor choice of words to use on this forum! :^)
Harold, Junior says "Amen."
But Harold (and Steve), that's only an issue when the holes don't line up. Surely that's not the case.
You can get anything on the internet, almost anything
http://www.autozone.com/sealants-glues-adhesives-and-tape/gasket-material
https://www.bing.com/search?setmkt=en-US&q=cork+gasket+material
Just regular cork sheet can leak pretty good too. Look for rubberized cork.
One of the reasons cork works so well for gaskets is that it absorbs and expands. The modern paper gaskets don't.